The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24
WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL.
Able Speeches by McSSrs. VI. Is. NC
Gee. II. ii. Watkins. ). =. <OrR.
md Dr. j. II. Smith.-.PrOSramme
DUE WEST, S. G., August %, 1887


his hands and brain to a daily arocatlon tIat
secludes him to q large extent from parLlcl-
pntng in social converse win ms leiiow-iliem, h
nothing affords more pleasure ana eSciles
more life and animation in the whole frame
than trip into the country, where the Ione-
ly Landscape can he seen. the growing crops
heavily fruited corn and colton-eNECe,.',ns ,C .,'s
from hill to vale, the cordial grasp OF .tie
hand of friend after friend can be felt, lne
wolds of wisdom Of the aged, the merry
laugh and sweetcr song Of the young ana
CAV can be heard. To contemplate sucn
trip is at once inspiring ana eS1i,nrI'l f,inI IN
Friday morning, when anticipating 1tunl
to the neighborhood of Walnut Grove cnmrcn;
at which place was to be Il picnic ana ScHnoI
exhibition, at the closing exercises ol the
term taught by Prof w. p. Culbertson.
Early on that day, in company with one OF
the fair and lovely young ladies or TINS aoWn; WI
seated behind splendid roadster, we Dl9
adieu to "frae and hairns," and soon fonnd
ourselves MT the residence of Mr.. NJ. p. Nc
Gee, whose name in that community Is one
that is covered with good deeds, nnu whose
hospitality is unbonnded; a cor9ial ana
warm welcome was extended by all Of his
family, and by word and deed from him and
his excellent wife VIC were made TO feel per-
fectly at home
At an early hour a large concourse OF peo.
pie from the ncighborhood, and number
from Laurens county, with representatives
from CokeSbury, Hodges, lIonca Path. Don
aids, Due West, and other places, were ON
the nd The a of the Of
and are working together In peace and har-
mony. holding up the hands of the young
gentlemen who prcsides over the school:
we saw and heard, Mr.. Culbertson has done
and is doing q good wordsworth Of which he
need not be ashamed, and work that Will
yet bear good fruit.
At Ii o'clock the meeting was called to or
der, and opened with an anthem by the
choir, led by Miss Minnie Beacham, who pre-.
sided at the organ, and after few words OF
welcome from Prof. Culberts9n' Ma.p and prayer yer
called on for speech, and responded In his
usual happy style, by saying that the meet
ing was for the purpose of increasing the IN
tcrest in education. He urged the importance
of an education, and was Of the opinion that
the free school system was doing much goou-
it gave the young Of this generation greater
advantages than than the Older persons had
enjoyed; while the system was imperfect.
yet he had naught to say against 1t, nut ms
we paid so much tax to the general govern
mcnt we should have an educational bonus,
and WAS therefore in favor Of the Blair Bill.
The free school system, properly supplement-
ed, would furnish basis upon which to
build higher education, and IT was hoped
that high schools would soon be located In
every community. The colored people were
educating their children, and we must OF ne.
ceSsity do the same. Our children were not
given us to be raised in ignorance and utter
darkness. but to be educated that they may
be useful cltlZenS, ornaments 10 society,
state and Church.
Prof II. II. Watkins, the next speaker for
the occasion. was then introduced TO the au.
diencc, and though young man, he mani
tested deep interested in the exercises OF the
day, and In a happy style delivered an able
address, full of rounded sentences ON the
subject, Morality in Education"-a subject
which, we are sorry to say, does not receive
any too much attention. During the course
of his remarks Mr.. Watkins said: "Thc chill
dren of our country who are educated ut ALL
are under the charge of the teachers during
the formative period Of their lives: ana ~
their minds are trained to love good or evil,
or taught to seek the highest wisdom, or
spurn what is beautiful or true-So Will the
fathers and mothers, the future Lawmakers
and teachers and citizens develop into the
represent; and ii they are not the happy pee,
pie whose God IS the Lord, we must be turned
away with all the nations which forget God
and our government and institutions be de-
stroyed forever" And in the selection of In
>tructors he said: GAS you, (parents) have
hope in the future interests Of your children
and your country, look to the kind or in
Struction which your children are receiving
and in the selection of teachers, get moral
teachers-Christian mcn-men OF heart as
well as BRAIN" The earnest and decisive
manner of the words OF wisdom with which
Mr.. Watkins spoke, Iespeaks for him life OF
To him we say, "Tentare est udlcre"
Prof j. G. Cork, of the Ninety.SiX High
School, was next introduced, and while he
made no prctcnsion as n public speaker. he
discussed the free school system in Il master
y manner, and won golden opinions for him
self both as y speaker and deep thinker
lie was glad To know there was no opposition
to the free school system at this place, and
that while the system was not perfect yet II
was a necessity: the public fund should be
supplemented so that the schools could con
Time the whole year. He had no patience
with the continual! TRADE against the system
and thought our efforts should be to build uI
rather than tear down the system was 4 fiX
turc, aud the State was bound TO provide
system by which the masses could get some
education. IIe spoke of the duties OF the
school officers, from the Staie Superintend
cnt down to the township trIStcc, and then
of the patrons. lie also referred to the fact
that any young man in this age OF the world
enjoying educational facilities never before
surpassed, needs no assistance and should be
too proud to accept any 10 obtain u collegiate
cducation-all he needs is the will-the way
is open.
Prof. Cork S speech was highly entertaining
throughout and showed that he was deeply
interested in the cause OF education.
Dr. Il. Smith, of Laurcns, was next called
upon, and made most happy, little talk
about three minutes. alluding TO the excellent
things already spoken, and eXcusing himself
by saying that the time had come when the
hungry should be fed, and believed the con
grcgation would vote for that part of the pro
grammc, which they did by general round
of cheer.
An invitation was extended to all to repair
to the grove TO "rest and refresh themselves
which they certainly did. The tables and
bask cts were filled with sumptuous dinners
and every one had an abundance.
Later lin the afternoon the crowd witnessed
Il game of baseball between the Walnut
Grove club and Il clnb from IaurenS county
which resulted in favor of the former.
1t was announced that the children OF the
school would give an exhibition at early can
die light in the school house. But about tho
| Snft IN nf lar
wind blew and tho rain fell, and for time
apprehension was expressed that the children
wunlu not he able 10 furnish the eager GROVE
with the entertainment TO which they haG
devoted some time in preparing. 4 rosirun
had been improviscd in front of the schoo
house, and rustic seats fixed up for tho
audience, which was quite good one fol
the weather did not prevent many from re
manning till night. After some unavoidable
delay the exercises were begun. and the fol
lowing programme carried out:
Too Much Side Show-Dialogue-W. p. Cul
bcrtson. w. G.. McGee, David Blackwell, sam
mic Riley, Oza Harvey. Bcrey Culbertson
Frank Bramlctt, Biermann Alexander.
Little thatterboX -(speech)- May Black
we'll.
Wise and Foolish Little Girls-(dialogue)-
Eula Alexander and Rosa Lee Moore.
Boy Of Courage-(speech)-S McGce.
Above the Skes-tdialogue)-Lucia McGe'
and May Blackwell.
The Truthful Boy-(speech) )-Walter Tins
ley.
Cat and og-(dialogue)-Pren McGee ant
I.idie Riley.
Courageous Observation-Disclosures Black
well.
To Be Happy You Must BE Good-(daloguc
Lula Blackwell, Sadie Moore and BerIey
CubertSon.
Little Srcaker-(speech)-J Steven
son.
Cooking Club (dialogue)- Sudie McGee
Margie Alexander and girls Of school.
The Bet - (dialoguc) Marion Williams
Bemann Alexander
Nothing Like ng-(dialoguej-Boys o
| the school and Bieman Alexander.